Chair



l. C. DECKER Feb. 23, 1932.

CHAIR Filed Nov. 22 1928 3 Shuts-Sheet 1 Q 5: WE w Feb. 23, 1932; c DECKER 1,846,795

CHAIR v Filed Nov. 22, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 23, 1932. l. c. DECKER 1,346,795

CHAIR Filed Nov. 22, 1928 s Sheets-Sheet 3 15 55 40 59 Z6 6 314mm fl mwc CfDzc/MZ/ sa (904 4441 Patented Feb. 23, 1932 warren sr area: 1

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ISAAC C. nnoKEit, or MONTGOMERY, PENNSYLVANIA" Application filed November 22, 1&28. Serial No. 321,244.

This invention relates to chairs and especially to those of theadjustable or reclining type.

The primary object of the invention is the 5 provision of a chair of this'type having an adjustable seat and an adjustable" back, so

interconnected that a .person occupying the Chair may effect adjustment of these parts readily to accommodate his Qparticular de- 10 sires by simply altering the position of his body in the chair. I V Y It is intended that the adjustable parts have a range of movement from a sittingposition to a full lounging or reclining position,

15 with provision for the automatic maintenance of the parts in full reclining position or in any position intermediate the full reclinpositions to which they may the interconnected back and seat, whereby the weight of tne occupant serves to automat ically maintain the parts in adjusted position. Provision for ready disassembly of certain of the parts of the chair to facilitate shipping is also an object of the invention; Fur-' ther objects will appear from the detailed description given hereinafter.

Reference is now had to the accompanying drawings, wherein there is shown a practical embodiment of the invention and in which: 7

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the preferred form of my improved chair with the parts in their normal or sitting position and the chair seat removed to showthe underlying parts; 7

Fig. 2, a side elevational View of the chair seat;

Fig. 3, a transverse 33 of Fig. 2; g

4 a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1, with the parts in norsection taken on line 59 in place;

mal or sitting position and the chair seat Fig. '5, a similar View with the parts shown in their full lounging or reclining position;

Fig. 6, a fragmentary perspective viewr of one of the lower corners of the chair back'and', its connection with one of the seat operating mechanisms. V

Fig. 7', a sectional View, similar to'Fig. 4:,-

ofa modified form of the invention with'the parts in normal or sitting position; and

Fig. 8, asectionalview, similar to Fig. 5, of the, same modification, with "the-partsin full reclining or lounging position.

The chair comprises a base or frame lhaving the usual legs 2 and arms 3. Chair frame 1 comprises side boards 4, 5, and end boards 6, 7, which are firmly secured togetherat their'extr'emit'ies tofurnish a rigid framework to support the other parts of the chair proper and-the mechanislnwhich provides for relative adjustment of the-seat and back ofthe chain. .j

Mounted, on the inner faces of the side boards 4:, 5 of the chair frame are the devices whereby the chair back 8 is; pivotally mounted on the frame 1 and is interconnected with the chair seat 9,.so as to provide for the desired relative movement of the back and seat.' Inasmuch as this mechanism is duplicatedoneachside of the chair frame 1,- only one of the devices willbe described in detail.- Eachof these devices comprises an elongated metal plate 10, which is suitably secured, as by means of screws 11or thelike,

to sideboard 4. At its rearend plate 10 has an upwardly projeotingextension 12 in the upperport'ionof which the chairbackB is 1 adapted to be pivotally mounted as will be described more particularly. hereinafter.

Pivotally mounted on the inner face .of' plate 10, intermediate the ends-thereof and on a rivet 13 extending throughthe two meme hers, is a camming plate or member 14. The

active or camming edge portion of plate 1 1," as appears clearly in Figs. .4 and 5, is formed with an integral flange 15. The reference to the adapted to swing is such that the forward end of fiange'15, as shown in Fig. 4, is appreciably closer to rivet 13 than is theopdisposition of flange15 with inwardly projecting curved rivet 13 on which plate lt'is position'shown in posite end thereof. The purpose of this will be explained later.

Connecting a pin or stud 16 provided in the forward end of plate 10, and a stud 17 provided on the outer face of camming plate 14, above rivet 13, is a heavy coil spring 18.

A link 19 is pivotally connected at its forward endby means of a rivet 20' to the lower extremity of camming plate 14. At its opposite end link 19 is pivotally connected by means of a rivet 21 to a perforated ear 22 on the lower end of a socket 23 secured to the;

lower portion of the chair back 8.

Chair back 8 comprisesupholstery 8 and is formed on a wooden frame which includes side members 24, 25 and bottom member 26 which connects the side members together. As shown in Fig. 6, socket 23, which is preferably made of sheet metal, is tapered clownwardly and' inwardly, and in order that side members 24, 25 of the framework of the back may be received in the sockets, the side members are tapered correspondingly at their lower extremities. Tongues 27, 28 are provided on each of the back-carrying sockets 23 and are perforated to receive suitable fastening means, such as screws, whereby the back 8 is firmly secured in the sockets.

Each socket 23 is pivotally mounted on the extension 12 formed on plate 10. For this purpose the upper portions of these members are provided with suitable registering openings through which extends a. rivet or pin 29 which thus forms tween the members. V

Withthe arrangement above described, it will be evidentthat coil springs 18, 18, being put in place under tension, normally serve to maintain camming plates 14, 14 in the Fig. 4. As a result of this, the lower extremities of the chair back 8 will be forced rearwardly by means of links 19, 19, against end board 7, thereby holding the upper portion of the chair back in its normal sitting position.

As shown'in Fig. 5, when the upper portion ofthe chair back 8 is swung backward- 1y about rivets or pivot pins 29,29 towards the lounging or reclining position, links 19, 19

are forced forwardly. This results in cam ming plates14, 14 being rotatedin a clock wise direction about their pivots 13, 13 against the gradually increasing tension of coil springs '18, 18, whichlatter always tend to return the parts to the normal position of Fig.4. H V

The chair seat 9, which comprises a frame 30 and upholstery 31, is also pivotally mounted in the chairframe 1. The pivotal connection between the chair seat and frame is located at the forward portion of the chair and comprises a small metal plate 32, suitably secured to the forward portion of each of the .sideboards 33, 34 of seat frame 30.

Each plate 32 is provided at its forward end the pivotal connection bewith a downwardly and rearwardly inclined slot 35 which is open at its lower end to receive a headed stud or pivot pin 36 rigidly mounted on the inner face of the side board of the chair frame 1, as appears clearly in Fig. 1. Clearance is provided under plate 32 curved edges 15, 15 of camming members 14, 14 engage ledges or shoulders 37, 37 and thus support the rear portion of the seat. With the seat-in the position shown in thisfigure, it will be evident that, by reason of the inclination of the slots 35, 35 injplates 32, 32, the seat cannot be removed by lifting it bodily. It is necessary to swing the seat upwardly about its pivots 36, "36: until the operator can grasp both the front-and rear edges of the seat, when it may be pulled forwardly and upwardly'olf of the pivot pins.

To replace the seat, the reverse of this operation is performed, that is, the front of the seat 9 is first placed on its pivot pins 36, 36 with the rear portion-of the seat held in an elevated position. As soon as the pivotal connection is completed, the rear portion of the seat is lowered into place on camming members 14, 14. The seat is then secured in place and may only be removed by the procedure just outlined. i u

In order to secure the desired coaction be tween each ledge 37 and the curved flange 15 of the corresponding camming member 14, ledge 37 is formed with an upwardly extending curvedportion or recess 38 and an adjoining downwardly extending curved portion or protuberance 39. As shown clearly in Fig. 4, curved portions 38 and 39 gradually merge into each other, so as to provide a con' tinuous operating surface.

Normally, that is in the uprlght or sitting positiornthe rear ends 40, 40 of camming flanges 15, 15 are in contact with the uppermost portions of curved surfaces or recesses 38, 38, being held in'this position by coil springs 18, 18. When the chair is occupied, the parts are further maintained in this position by the weight of the occupant on the chair seat 9. The resulting downward pressure on the rear portion of the seat creates a frictional resistance between curved portion 38 and the rear edge 40 of flange 15 to the tendency of camming member 14 to move in a clockwise direction as a result of any pressure exerted against the chair back by the occupant. In order to further insure the maintenance of the seat and back in normal sitting position, unless-more than ordinary pressure is exerted by the occupant against the chair back 'to move it towards reclining position, curved portion 38 and protuberance 39 are so formed that the distance between pivot pin 13 of camming member 14 and the uppermost portion of curved surface 38 is greater than the distance between pivot 13 and the lowermost portion of protuberance 39. As a result of this, there is aninitial relatively high resistance to the movement of the several parts from the sitting position, but as soon as rear edge 40 of camming flange 15 reaches the lowermost point of protuberance 39, this resistance is overcome and protuberance 39 rides on camming flange as shown in Fig. 5. Thus, the occupant of the chair need not 15 hold himself in a strained position order to prevent the back of the chair from swinging downwardly into a reclining position, but may'occupy the chair in a naturalmanner and still remain in the sitting position. l/Vhen it 29 is desired to moveto a reclining position, a'

slight pressure of the occupants back against.

the back of the chair and a consequent slight raising of his body from the seat of the chair will result in the desired change in the position of the back and seat. After the protuberance 39 has come into contact with the outer surface of camming flange 15, the occupant of the chair will still have full control over the relative angular relation of the seat and back due tothe frictional resistance tot-he continued movement of theparts caused by the contact of pro tuberance 39 on flange 15 a the occupants body on the seat. Slight pressure by the will result in' movement of the parts to any desired position and the frictional resistance just mentioned will adjusted, thereby any strain or eflort to hold the parts in place. It will be evident that as the chair back 8 is swung rearwardly toward the full recline mg position, a'gra'dual lowering of the rear portion of chair seat'9 will resultdue' to the contour of the camming edge or flange 15. This is accomplished without any change in the height of the front portionof the seat and thus serves to adjust thebody supportthem most comfortable.

Referring to Fig. 5, which shows the parts in full reclining position, it will be seen that movement beyond this position is prevented by the engagement of rear edge 40 of flange 15 with the upper edge of link 19. The lower outer edge 41 of the chair back at the same time engages with the upper edge of the end board 7 also serves to limit the movement.

In the full reclining position, it will be seen that the forward end 42 of flange 15 is in contact with the lowermost portion of protuberance 39 and, consequently, the rear portion of seat 9 is in its lowermost position. As soon as the occupant removes his body and the weight of occupant upon the chair back '8' maintain the parts'as' rellevlng the occupant of;

ing portions of the chair so as to render of the chair frame and thus caused thereby in the operating mechanism is eliminated.

The construction of the modified form of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 and is to a large degree the same as that'of the form shown in Figs. 1 6, inclusive. The main difference, as the operative connections between back 8' and the seat the chair 9 are arranged sothat in the sitting positionthe rear portion of the seat is at its lowest level instead of at its highest level, as in the preferred form. Consequently, in the modified form the rear porshown in Fig. 7, is that I tion ofthe seat is at its highest level when 1 the parts-are in the as shown in Fig. 8.

v In order to accomplish themovements of the back and seat just described, the connections of each coil spring 18 and each link 19 to the corresponding camming plate 14 are reversed. That is, spring 18 is connected to plate 14 by means of pin 20 instead of pin 17, and link 19 is connected to the pin '17 instead of pin or rivet 20.

lVith this arrangement, in the normalor sitting position of the parts,

full reclining position,

most position. The parts, as before, are held in this position by springs 18, 18.

Rearward movement of the chair back 8 towards the full reclining position, as shown in Fig. 8, will result in links 19, 19 rotating.

camming plates 14, 14 in direction on their pivots ance of springs 18, 18.

continues,

a counter-clockwise against the resist- As this movement the rear portion'of chair seat 9 Will gradually be raised by .camming flanges 15, 15 from. its lowermost position of Fig. 7 to its highest or full reclining position as shown in Fig. 8. Further movement of the parts in this direction is prevented byengagement of links 19, 19 with the projecting heads of pivot pins 13, 13 and the lower outer edge 41 of the chair back with the top of end plate 7 of the frame. 1

WVith the parts in full reclining position, the relation between camming flange 15 and the curved surfaces 38, 39 is the same as it was in the arrangement shown in Fig. 4. In other words, the shape of these surfaces'is such that a relatively high initial resistance to the movement of the parts from the full plate by as appears from- Fig. 7 the rear end 40 of camming flange 15.

than the distance between this pivot and any other part of flange15, the rear portion of seat 9 is now in its lower-- reclining position is established; The resistancetendsto maintain the parts inthis extreme position, as it similarly tends to maintain the parts in the opposite extreme or sitting position in the preferred form of the invention, as appears from Fig. 4.

In both forms of the invention, it will be clear that the occupant, without moving from the chair, can move the parts to any desired position upon applying slight pressure on the back, and the parts will remain in the adjusted position as long as he occupies the chair.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction of the device, since it is not intended that the invention be restricted to the construction shown, except as it'may be limited by the appended claims.

What is claimed is: r

1. In a chair, the co bination of a frame; a back swingably mountedintermediate its ends in the frame ;,a seat pivotally supported in the frame independently of the back, said seat and back being adapted for movement relative to each other; and means interposed between the back and the seat for effecting a lowering'of the rear portion of the-seat upon rearward swinging movement of the back.

2. In a chair, the combination, of a frame; a seat pivotally mounted at its forward edge for vertical swinging movement in the frame a back mounted for swinging movement in said frame; operative the back and seat for effecting a downward swinging movement of the seat upon rearward swinging movement of the back and an upward swinging movement of the seat upon forward swinging movement of the back, said operative connections all being located entirely below the upper surface of the seat.

3. The combination in a chair of a frame; a pair of tapered sockets pivotally mounted on said frame; and a back rigidly mounted in said sockets for movement therewith relative to the frame.

4. In a chair, the combination of a frame; an adjustable seat mounted in the frame; a pair of tapered sockets pivotally mounted on said frame; a. back rigidly mount-ed in said sockets for movement therewith relative to the frame; and operative connections interposed between said sockets and the seat for,

V effecting movement of the seat when the back 7 is moved.

5. The combination in a chair of a frame; a seat pivotally mounted at-its front edge in the frame; a back pivotally mounted in the frame; and cam means, on said frame, supporting the rear portion of the seat, said back and said cam means being operatively connected, so as to efiect a swinging movement of the seat upon movement of the back.

6. In a chair, the combination of a frame; a seat pivotally mounted in the frame, said seat being provided on its sides with ledges at one end to the'cam on connections between having adjoining upwardly and downwardly curved surfaces; a back ed on the frame; cams pivoted on the frame and engaging said ledges on the seat; and operative connections between the back ant cams for causing the cams to coact with said adjoining curved surfaces upon movement of the back and the seat. 7

7 An operating mechanism adapted to be interposed between the adjustable seat and back of a chair to effect movement of the seat when the back is moved, comprising a supporting member; a

spring connected at one end to the cam on one side of its pivot and at its opposite end to the supporting member; a link connected the opposite side of its pivot; and'back-carrying means operatively connectedto the other end of said link and'pivotally mounted on said supporting member.

18. An operating mechanism adapted to be interposed between the adjustable seat and back of a chair to effect movement of the seat when the back is moved, comprising an elongated supporting member; a cam pivotally mounted thereon; a spring connected to the vsupporting memberat one end and at its opposite end to the cam on one side of the pivot thereof; a link connected at one end to the cam. on the opposite side of its pivot; a socket pivotally connected to the other end of said link; and a pivotal connection between said socket and thesupporting mem- 9. In a chair, the combination of a frame; a seat pivotally mounted at its forward edge in the frame and having overhanging ledges on its sides to the rear of said pivot; a back pivotally mounted near its lower end in the frame and operating means mounted on the frame and connected to the chair back below its pivot, said operating means including a pair of pivoted cams having body portions located between the seat and the chair frame and provided with peripheral flanges upon which saidoverhanging seat ledges rest at all times and connections between the back and said body portions on the flange sides of the cams, whereby rearward swinging move ment of the upper portion of the chair back results in downward swinging movement of the rear portion of the seat. 1

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ISAAC C. DECKER.

pivotally mount effect swinging movement of cam pivotally mounted on sa1d member intermediate its ends; a'

CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,846,795, Granted February 23, 1932, to

ISAAC C. DECKER.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page-'4, line 42, claim 3, strike out the word "tapered"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 5th day of April, A. D. 1932.

M. J. Moore,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

